'A bit too much' - Dirk Kuyt makes Liverpool exit admission with John Terry claim

If there is one thing Dirk Kuyt can never be accused of as a professional footballer, it is lacking the desire to win at all costs.

It is no coincidence the former Liverpool winger was given the nickname of 'Mr Duracell' by Rafa Benitez during his time at the club, for the Dutchman made a habit of covering every blade of grass each time he stepped out onto the pitch.

Arriving at the club in the summer of 2006 from Feyenoord, Kuyt was aware of the sense of responsibility that representing the Reds would bring - but a pre-season tour of Asia ahead of the 2009/10 season opened his eyes to a whole new reality.

"Liverpool was always one of my favourite teams in Europe, I already respected them a lot. When Rafa called me, it was just before the World Cup in 2006. I was surprised but also very happy. There was only one thing I wanted after that phone call, and that was to join Liverpool," he told the ECHO.

"You know the club from the television, I'd never been to the stadium before. But once you're in it and living the dream, it was amazing: the fans, the special nights. We also went to pre-season in Asia and there were so many fans - you then realise how big a club Liverpool is. With all these other things around Liverpool, it is actually more than a football club."

The 41-year-old was involved in a number of special occasions during his six-year stay, particularly on the European stage as Benitez looked to build on the success of Istanbul.

It was Kuyt who scored the winning penalty to book the Reds' place in the 2007 Champions League final to knock Chelsea out of the competition, though this was just the start of battles against the Londoners in Europe's elite competition. The two sides would meet in the knockout stages in